Pivoted lever type container cap remover with cutter



1955 F. A. KRZANOWSKI 2,729,125

PIVOTED LEVER TYPE CONTAINER CAP REMOVER WITH CUTTER Filed May 7, 1954 @TIHHHHHH United States Patent PIVOTED LEVER TYPE CONTAINER CAP REMOVER WITH CUTTER Frank A. Krzanowski, Pittsburgh, Pa., assignor of one-half to Adam J. Ciesielski, Pittsburgh, Pa.

Application May 7, 1954, Serial No. 428,160

1 Claim. (Cl. 81--3.46)

This invention relates to kitchen tools and more particularly to improvements in container cap or closure removers.

It is an object of this invention to provide a container cap remover which may be applied to the cap or lid of various size bottles and jars to remove the cap or lid therefrom.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a tool which may be applied to various types of container closures, and operate eflfectively to remove such caps or closures whether they are of the screw type or of the pressed-on vacuum type seal, and whether or not a film of plastic material is placed over the cap or closure and neck of the bottle to seal the closed end of the bottle, jar or other type of container.

Another and still further object of this invention is to provide a simple, rugged kitchen implement capable of respectively is opposing relation one to the other. The inner or concave faces 16 and 18 are provided with transversely extending serrations or teeth 20.

inwardly extending projections 22 and 24 are carried by the respective levers 10 and 12 intermediate their ends for movement therewith in intersecting paths so as to define an abutment stop to limit movement of the levers 1t) and 12 in their arcuate paths toward each other. The projections 22 and 24 have their longitudinal center lines somewhat downwardly inclined with respect to the center lines of the respective levers 10 and 12 and are preferably integrally formed with their respective levers so as to extend from the inner or concave faces 16 and 18 respectively and have their distal ends terminate, when in abutting relation, at the longitudinal center line through the tool or remover. Both the upper and lower longitudinal edges of each of the projections 22 and 24 are provided with transverse serrations or teeth 26 and 28 respectively, so as to be continuous with the teeth 20 on the respective concave faces 16 and 18.

A first set of jaws 30 is defined by the concave faces 16 and 18 which extend from the connection 14 to the stop defined by the projections 22 and 24, and a second set of jaws 32 is defined by the concave face portions which extend from the stop to the other ends 34 and 36 respectively of the levers 1t} and 12 remote from their pivotal connection 14.

easy manufacture at relatively low cost and which has a universal application to caps, lids or other types of container closures regardless of the manner in which they are held on the container or regardless of the size of the closure.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a container closure remover in which provision is made whereby the tough plastic film which covers the closure and neck of a container may be readily cut and removed without injury to the cap or lid of the container and without injury to the user.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following detailed description, forming the specification, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of a container closure remover embodying this invention;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the device in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a vertical cross sectional view taken on line 33 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a bottom plan view of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is an elevational view showing the application of one of the jaws of the remover as applied to a bottle cap for removal thereof;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary cross sectional view showing the application of the cutters to the film sealing the container closure;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary, partially sectional view in top plan showing the application of the cutters to the film covering the container closure on the container shown in Figure 6; and

Figure 8 is an elevational view showing the application of the bottle opening portion of the remover as applied to the cap of a bottle prior to removal of the cap.

With continued reference to the drawings, the kitchen tool or container closure remover of the present invention comprises a pair of concavo-convexly formed levers 10 and 12 connected together at one end, as by the rivet or pin 14, for movement in arcuate paths lying in the same plane and having their concave faces 16 and 18 The ends 34 and 36 of each of the levers 10 and 12 respectively carry on their inner faces 38 and 40 respectively, laterally projecting, pointed prongs 42 and 44 respectively which extend toward each other but are so disposed relative to each other that the prong 42 is immediately below the prong 44 so that the pointed ends of the prongs may pass each other as they move in their arcuate paths with the levers 10 and 12 respectively upon which they are carried. Movement of the prongs 42 and 44 toward each other is limited by the abutment stop defined by the projections 22 and 24. The purpose of providing prongs of his sort on the tool of the present invention is for the penetration of the tops of containers of the tin-can type.

A pair of similar arcuately formed, oppositely disposed jaws generally indicated at 46 and 48 are carried by the ends 34 and 36 of the respective levers 10 and 12, the jaws 46 and 48 extend outwardly from the respective levers 10 and 12 in a direction away from the pivotal connection 14 between the levers and are preferably integrally formed with the respective levers so as to extend in a common plane therewith. Each of the jaws 46 and 48 comprises a lower straight shank portion 50, one end of which is formed integrally with the respective lever and the other end of which carries an integrally formed concavo-convex arcuate portion 52 which are so disposed so that their inner concave faces 53 are in opposed relation. Therefore, the jaws 46 and 48 define therebetween the third clamp, the closing action of this clamp also being limited by the abutment stop defined by the projections 22 and 24 in their relative movement toward each other since the jaws 46 and 48 will move with the levers 10 and 12 as the levers are caused to move in their arcuate paths. Arranged longitudinally of the concave faces 53 on each of the jaws 46 and 48 there is provided inwardly protruding lugs 54 and 56, one lug on each jaw. The lugs 54 and 56 are of a narrow fiat metal stock and may be secured upon the respective jaws as by welding or brazing so that the longitudinal edges of the lugs remote from their attachment to the respective jaws will be disposed in opposition one to the other. These lugs are adapted to fit between the cap or lid of a bottle and a shoulder on the bottle neck or mouth and by firmly holding the levers 10 and 12 together in one hand, the cap or lid may be lifted by depressing the end of the levers at the connection 14, thus forcing the cap or lid from the bottle opening without damaging or bending the cap or lid. This manner of application is clearly shown in Figure 7 where the lugs 54 and 56 have been inserted between the cap 58 and the shoulder of a bottle 60.

Many bottles or containers, such as the bottle or conminer 60, are provided with a seal, usually of a tough plastic material, which is placed over the cap 58, this film being indicated at 62. In order to provide in the tool or remover of the present invention means whereby the plastic "seal may be severed, it will be noted that the leading edges 55 and 57 of the respective lugs 54 and 56 are formed into a knife edge by the tapering of the upper and lower sides of the lugs while the terminal ends 64 and 66 are of a diminished width so as to define relatively thin, flat guide fingers. As the tool is placed about the neck portion of a bottle or jar, such as the container 60, the end surfaces of the guide fingers 64 and 66 provided on the respective jaws 46 and 48, act as guides for the cutting edges 55 and 57 of the respective lugs 54 and 56.- With the application of pressure on the levers and 12 so as to move them in their arcuate paths toward each other, fingers 64 and 66 will afford a gripping means so that the container can be lifted and carried from one place to another as well as providing a guide for the cutting edges 55 and 57 to sever the plastic filrn seal. The outer faces 68 and 70, which are convexly formed, of the respective levers 10 and 12 are provided at the respective ends 34 and 36 with a transversely extending ridge 72 which is in spaced relation to the outer face of the adjacent shanks 50 of the jaws 46 and 48 so as to define therebetween a bottle opener or cap remover which may be applied to the cap 74 which closes the bottle or container 76 in the manner shown in Figure 8.

In the event that the container or bottle cap is of the type which is threadingly engaged upon the neck of the container, such as a container 78 shown in Figure 5, and where the cap or closure 80 is of relatively small diameter, it will be seen, as shown in Figure 5, that the second jaw 32 will be employed in the manner shown so as to clamp the periphery of the cap 88 and as the levers 10 and 12 are moved in their arcuate paths toward each other so as to afford a tight grip of the second jaw 32 about the cap 80, a proper amount of leverage may be applied to the screw bottle cap 89 so as to unthread the cap from the threads on the bottle neck and thereby remove the cap from the bottle or container 78.

In the event that the cap or closure cover is of larger diameter, such as those employed on wide mouthed jars, the' first jaw 38 will grip about the outer periphery of cap or closure so that the serrations or teeth 20 as well as the serrations 26 will engage the periphery of the cap to afford a greater gripping potential, and the larger diameter cap or container closure will be unscrewed from the container upon which it is carried.

In addition to defining the first clamp 30 and the secand clamp 32 therebetween, the levers 1t and 12, more especially the outer faces 68 and 76 thereof, define a frame and hand grip, and may be suitably roughened or knurled to afford a non-slip surface.

With respect to the jaws 46 and 48', it should be noted that the arcuate portions 52 thereof are so arcuately shaped as to fit any size neck of the bottle or container from which the cap or closure is to be removed and at the same time the track or guide fingers 64 and 66 will act as a guide for the cutters 55 and 57 in various size bottle necks or, more specifically, various sizes of caps or container closures carried by the bottle or container neck.

Also, it should be noted that the outer face of each of the shank portions 50, remote from the face carrying the lugs 54 and 56, are flattened so as to provide a bettcr gripping surface when the bottle opener defined between the outer face of each of the shank members and the ridges 72 is employed as shown in Figure 8. Also, the outer faces 68 and 70 of each of the levers 10 and 12 have been flattened at the ends 34 and 36 thereof, as clearly shown in Figure 2.

In Figure 6, the application of the plastic film seal cutters, specifically the cutter 55, is shown as applied to the plastic seal 62 of the bottle or container neck 61 of the bottle as shown in Figure 7.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that there has been provided a tool in the nature of a container cap remover which comprises a pair of concavo-convexly formed levers connected together at one end for movement in arcuate paths which lie in the same plane and the levers having their concave faces in opposing relation, each of the levers 10 and 12 being provided with an inwardly extending projection intermediate its ends for movement therewith and intersecting paths to define an abutment stop whereby movement of said levers in their arcuate paths toward each other is limited by the abutment stop defined by the projections 22 and 24. Also, the levers have a first set of jaws 30 defined by the concave faces 16 and 18 respective which extend from the connection 14 to the stop defined by the projections 24 and 22, and a second set of jaws defined by the concave faces 16' and 18 which extend from the stop to' the other ends 34 and 36, remote from the connection 14, and each of the levers 10 and 12 carrying similarly arcuately formed and oppositely disposed jaws 46 and 48 respectively which define therebetween a third clamp, the closing action of which clamp is also limited by the abutment stop defined by the projections 22 and 24.

While there are shown and described the preferred embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that the structure is susceptible to change and modification within the practicability of the invention and therefore should be limited only by the scope of the claim appended hereto.

What is claimed is:

A container cap remover comprising a pair of concavo-convexly formed levers connected together at one end for movement in arcuate paths lying in the same plane and having their concave faces in opposing relation, an inwardly extending projection carried by each of said levers intermediate its ends for movement therewith in intersecting paths to define an abutment stop to limit movement of said levers in their arcuate paths toward each other, and arcuately formed set of jaws carried by said other ends of said levers to define therebetween a clamp the closing action of which is limited by said abutment stop, each of said jaws carrying a cutter in its inner face, said cutter on each jaw being in opposed relation, and guide fingers carried by the end of each cutter remote from said levers to guide said cutters about the neck of a container and to provide gripping means whereby the container may be lifted by the cap remover.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 930,796 Quackenb'u'sh Aug. 10, 1909 2,131,395 Voss Sept. 27, 1938 2,599,968 Acard June 10, 1952 2,651,226 Hopm'ann Sept. 8, 1953 

